# 27 Don't Inherit A Life *Week 5, Day 3 of [[00 The Wealthy Stoic Course]]* #source/course << [[26 Embrace Your Rich Life|Back]] | [[28 Define Your Ideal Life|Next]] >>  ## Content > “The silver spoon in the mouth too often becomes the silver dagger in the back—an ill-considered gift that saps ambition and drains motivation, that deprives a young person of the great adventure of finding his or her own way…For my father—and now for me—the essence of a good work ethic starts with meeting a challenge of self-discovery, finding something you love to do, so that work—even, or especially, when it is very difficult and arduous—becomes joyful, maybe even sacred.” — Peter Buffett At the age of 19, Peter Buffett, the youngest son of Warren Buffett, came to a crossroads. When Peter’s grandfather died, he left his grandchildren shares of Berkshire Hathaway.  When Peter inherited his shares he was a student at Stanford University. But from the time he was a little kid, Peter dreamed of being a musician. So Peter cashed in his Berkshire shares for $90,000 and went after his dream. Peter took the harder path.  It’s estimated that Peter’s shares would today be worth over $300 million. And though the $90,000 got him going, he quickly found himself sleeping in his car and taking out mortgages on his house. If he had to do it again, Peter writes in [_Life is What You Make It_](https://geni.us/aCYktA)_,_ he would choose the path he chose a million times over.  **It was [[Seneca]] who said he pitied people who have never experienced challenges. ==“You have passed through life without an opponent,” he said, “No one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.”**== ([[You have passed through life without an opponent|Literature ref]]) "I'm much happier having a life," Peter said. "I learned more in those \[difficult] times about myself and my resiliency than I ever would have if I'd had a pile of money and I could have glided through life.” Without the pile of money to glide on, Peter continued to pursue his dream and went on to be a successful musician, as well as a bestselling author. When he came to the crossroads, he chose _his_ Rich Life over his inherited life. And in the end, it made all the difference. --- ## Activity **What path are you taking?** Are you taking steps in the direction that YOU want to go? What steps have you already taken? What's the goal?